Table 8-2.--Material and Labor Requirements for 984-Foot Sections of Various Barbed Wire Entanglements
1
Lower number of reels applies when screw pickets are used: high number when U-shaped pickets are used. Add difference between the two to the higher num-
ber when wood pickets are used.
2
Average weight when any issue metal pickets are used.
3
Man-hours are based on the use of screw pickets. With the exception of the triple-standard concertinas, add 20 percent to the man-hours when driven pickets
are used. With experienced troops, reduce man-hours by one-third. Increase man-hours by 50 percent for nightwork.
4
Based on concertinas being made up in rear areas and ready for issue. Once expedient concertina opens to 19.7 ft length, as compared with 15 meters for a
standard concertina; it requires 302 feet of standard barbed wire, also small quantities of No. 16 smooth wire for ties.
5
Number of 984 ft 14.5 kg barbed tape carrying cases required if barbed tape is used in place of barbed wire.
6
Kgs of materials required per linear meter of entanglement if barbed tape is used in place of barbed wire and barbed tape concertina is used in place of stand-
ard and barbed a wire concertina.
Two men can collapse a concertina in the following
spring-steel, core wire. Its configuration, method of
handling, and method of employment are similar to
manner:
standard barbed-wire concertina. One roll weighs
1. First, remove all the kinks in the coils.
31 pounds.
2. Tighten or replace the loose clips with plain
wire.
ORGANIZATION OF WORK
3. Station one man at each end of the concertina
Table 8-2 lists the materials and man-hours required
and have them place one foot at the bottom of the coil
to assemble various entanglements. The normal sizes of
and one arm under the top of the coil to close it.
work crews are listed in the descriptions of the
4. Now, have two men walk toward each other
entanglements. For each construction project, the senior
petty officer divides his crew into groups of
closing the concertina as they go by feeding the wire
approximately equal size, based on his knowledge of the
over their arms and against their feet.
skill and the speed of each man. He organizes them in
5. After closing, lay the concertina flat and
such a way that construction proceeds in proper order
compress it with your feet.
and at a uniform rate. Each individual must know
exactly what his group is to do and his job in the group.
6. The the concertina with plain-wire bindings.
Each man should have barbed wire gauntlets. The
One man can carry the collapsed concertina by
sequence of operations for each fence is given in the
stepping into it and picking it up by the wire handles
paragraph describing the erection of the fence. Follow
attached to the midpoints of an end coil.
the sequence outlined, and as you gain experience, you
Use improvised staples, approximately 18 inches
For each section of entanglement, all fence-building
long and made of 1/2-inch driftpins or similar material,
operations normally proceed from right to left, as one
to fasten the bottoms of concertina fences securely to
faces the enemy. It may, however, be necessary to work
the ground.
from left to right. Men should, as time permits, be taught
Barbed-tape concertina comes in a diameter of 33
to work in either direction. In case of heavy casualties,
inches and an expanded length of 50 feet. It is formed
the senior officer or petty officer decides what wires, if
of barbed tape wrapped around a high-strength,
any, are to be omitted.
8-9